Danube WatCh

The Magazine of The Danube RiveR /www.icpDR.oRg 2/2010

12 Challenges in the Danube Janos Potocˇnik, EU Commissioner for Environment, looks at how Danube coun- tries are doing in their efforts to get their waters clean and keep them clean. 14 europe’s baCkbone of bioDiversity With 2010 declared by the United Nations to be the International Ye ar of Biodiver- sity, there is more reason to celebrate the richness of the region 23 Danube Day2010: getting aCtive for the rivers! 3 Letter to readers 9 Troubled Waters photo 14 The Danube River – 20 Sailing together in exhibition Europe’s backbone of one direction 4 News &events biodiversity 10 Power from the Danube – 22 The ecological road for 6 Crossing the Danube can it be sustainable? 18 Public participation in waterways action: Hungary’s river 9 Donors consult on 12 EU Commissioner for 23 Danube Day 2010: financing the Joint basin management planning Environment looks at process Getting active forthe rivers! Programme of Measures challenges in the Danube 19 Massive floods in summer 2010

12 Brdo, Slovenia Danube leaders met to discussthe increased need forCo-neutral energy, 20 2 constructing newhydro- Budapest, Hungary powerplants,minimum hungary provesthat suc- ecological requirements cessfulimplementation of and howall of this canbein the eu Waterframework line with the Danube river Directiverequires clo- basin Management plan. se cooperation between experts and organisations involved or interested in river basin management planning. Dear readers,

Credit: ICPDR/Stögmüller Maybe you have spent your holidays in the Danube To address this important issue, theICPDRinitiateda Basin: walking the Alps or the Carpathians, relaxing dialogue in June with the representatives of the hydro- on alake or ariver bank, or swimming on the shores power sector along the Danube and its main tributaries of the Black Sea. If so, you have enjoyed the beauty (see also article on page 10). We will explore if and of this remarkable basin –abeauty we enjoy thanks to how the sustainable use of hydropower can be secured. the high biodiversity of plant and animal species. Iamvery positive that compromises can be found, which will balance our commitment to nature with the To highlight this natural wealth, the UN has declared needs of people. 2010 to be the International Ye ar of Biodiversity.The article on page 15 links our region to this celebration Finally, we are very pleased to include aconversation of lifeonearth and of the value of biodiversity for with Janos Potocˇnik, EU Commissioner forEnviron- our lives. ment, in this issue of Danube Wa tch. The article on page 12 looks at theimpactand successofthe EU Wa - However, the Danube Basin is not only home to ani- ter Framework Directive, ten years after its adoption, mals and plants –itisalso home to over 80 million and proves that the Danube countries have much to be people, all of whom need electricity fortheir daily proud of. lives –electricity that is often produced by hydropo- wer. Pushed by the increasing need forcarbon-neutral Mitja Bricelj, ICPDR President 2010, Slovenia electricity, the exploitation of hydropower and the voices that call forthe construction of new hydropo- wer plants are getting stronger.

iMprint

Forafree subscription Owner/Publisher: ICPDR –International Commission forthe to Danube Watch, or Protection of the Danube River, Vienna, [email protected]; to contribute to Danube Executive Editor: Jasmine Bachmann; Editor: Kirstie Shepherd; Watch, please contact Design: Agentur 7, Sylvia Kostenzer; Cover photo: WWF DCP; [email protected] Print: Druckerei Janetschek GmbH, Vienna

Danube Watch is Danube Watch is the official magazine of ICPDR, the International available on the web Commission forthe Protection of the Danube River.Danube Watch at www.icpdr.org enhances regional cooperation and information sharing on sustainable water management and environmental protection in the Danube River Basin. It reports on current issues affecting the Danube Basin, and Danube Watch is printed on action taken to deal with challenges in the river basin. Striving on Arctic the Volume forscientific accuracy while remaining concise, clear and readable, it 150 &100 g/m2. is produced forthe wide range of people who are actively involved in Arctic Paper holds aFSC the Danube River Basin and are working forthe improvement of its traceability certificate. environment.

The ICPDR accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to information or opinions of the authors of the articles in this issue.

DANUBE WATCH 3 News &events

eu bathing Water qualityreMainshigh The annual bathing water report presented by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency shows that 96% of coastal bathing areas and 90% of bathing sites in rivers and lakes complied with minimum standards in 2009. The results confirm along-term upward trend, with the greatest increase forinland waters, rising from 52 %to90%. Formore information, please visit: http://www.eea.europa.eu/ publications/quality-of-bathing-water-2009-bathing-season

Credit: Mello neW register of inDustrial eMissions Anew European pollutant release and transfer register launched by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency provides data on the quantity and location of pollutants released to air, water and land by industrial facilities throughout Europe. It includes annual data for91 substances and covers more than 24,000 facilities in 65 economic activities. Formore information, please visit: http://prtr.ec.europa.eu/

Credit: Vo gel taCkling european Water sCarCity Anew EC report on water scarcity and drought states that greater efforts on pricing and efficiency are needed to reverse the over-exploitation of limited water resources. Despite more rainfall in southern European countries in 2009 than in previous years, the report warns that some Member States have begun to suffer ‘permanent scarcity across the whole country’. Formore information, please visit: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ water/quantity/eu_action.htm#2009

Credit: Teun everything about fresh Water in europe The European Environment Agency has added two new sets of data on urban waste water and pollutant releases to the information on the web- based Wa ter Information System forEurope. The website brings together all the information collected at EU level and on surface and ground water, including data on bathing waters.Itpresentsthe informationinthe form of datasets or interactive maps. Formore information, please visit: http://water.europa.eu

Credit: Mello

4 DANUBE WATCH 19–24/9/2010 Montréal, CanaDa

iWaWorlD Water Congress anD exhibition The IWAWorld Wa ter Congress and Exhibition is abiennial event that brings 4500 water professionals together to discuss water management, climate and energy and the security of water resources forthe future. Formore information, please visit: www.iwa2010montreal.org/

6/10/2010 kuhMo,finlanD

4th pan-european green beltConferenCe The European Green Belt aims to create an ecological network from the Barents to the Black Sea, spanning some of the most important habitats for biodiversity and almost all distinct biogeographical regions in Europe. Formore information, please visit: www.europeangreenbelt.org/

6–8/10/2010 paris, franCe

international Workshop on urban rainWater ManageMent This workshop, organised as preparation to the 6th Wo rld Water Forum, aims to share experiences about practices and policies implemented in vari- ous countries and in particular in southern countries. Formore information, please visit: www.gwpceeforum.org

11–14/10/2010 perth, australia

13th international riversyMposiuM The Symposium will bring together adiverse audience forinteractive and vibrant discussion on six key areas: water sources, water forindustry, rivers and catchments, climate change, policy and regulations, and community. Formore information, please visit: www.riversymposium.com

neW heaD of Delegation Jorge Rodriguez-Romero has taken over as Head of the EU Delegation from Helmut Blöch, who will be working on marine issues within the DG Envi- ronment. Helmut has been not only the mastermind of the EU Wa ter Fra- mework Directive, but also an important pillar forthe ICPDR. The ICPDR would like to thank Helmut forhis efforts and warmly welcomes Jorge. Credit: ICPDR/Stögmüller

gooD bye JasMine –WelCoMe raiMunD! After coordinating public participation and communication activities for eight years, Jasmine Bachmann has leftthe ICPDR Secretariat. Jasmine has been responsible forthe launch of international Danube Day, the Danube Box and the re-launch of Danube Watch. Raimund Mair has taken over as Technical Expert forRiver Basin Ma- nagement and will coordinate implementation of the Danube River Basin Management Plan. The ICPDR wishes Jasmine all the best forher future, and welcomes Raimund to the Danube family! Credit: ICPDR/Stögmüller

DANUBE WATCH 5 bridgeslinkcultureswhile they span thelength Crossing theDanube of our imagination.theyreflectbacktousthe Anew book highlights the glories of the Danube’s strengthsand aspirations of our societies.anew book by photographer petergyukics,tobepublis- bridges and reveals the architecture and inspiration hed this autumn,showcases thebeautiful bridges that makethese beautiful structures apartofthe of theDanube river. character and culture of the Danube. Peter Gyukics had been photographing roads and highway constructions foryears when he became interested in bridges. He was working with engineer Margit Schulz when he wascaptured by the form and

6 DANUBE WATCH structure of arailway bridge that he’d never noticed that makes them beautiful, “especially when functio- Bridges overcome obsta- before. “This was the breaking point forme,” says Gy- nality and the most recent technological knowledge of cles of time and place and ukics. “I started to pay attention to all the bridges that the era are fused in them”. inspire us to unite the divided and make one Ipassed, and took photos of them all.” of what once was two. putting apassion intoprint. Later Gyukics met bridge Credit: Gyukics Gyukics’s fascination with bridges, he says, comes historian Erno˝ Tóth, author of several technical from their invisibility.“Bridges are part of our eve- books. “He told me about an old dream of his”, says ryday life, but we don’t notice them at all, we only Gyukics. “He’d always wanted abook which is not use them. Bridges fade into the landscape, and even if full of technical schemes, tables or text, but with they stand out from it they still emphasise the nature lots of pictures about bridges.” No such book existed surrounding them,” he says. And it is their usefulness then, and Gyukics and Tóth decided to collaborate to

DANUBE WATCH 7 Gyukics’s favourite Gyukics’s journeys photographing the river’s bridges bridge is Liberty Bridge have introduced him to people from all walks of life. in Budapest, the first “Today it’s not astonishing to see aCanadian and a bridge engineered by Hungarians. “I was caught Hungarian having aconversation in the 400-year-old by its gracefulness and post office restaurant of Immendingen and when the its gaudiness before I owner joins the conversation they switch from English knew anything about to German. Even without anycommon language, the bridges. The form and the local people are very open.” proportions of its arcs and its ornaments make this bridge agood example of Bridges are powerful metaphors forGyukics, and he is the fusion of an era’s ma- confident that the Danube Basin might be the region ximal technical knowledge to lead Europe to change. “If we utilised our natural and aesthetics.” Credit: resources more efficiently and developed closer coope- Gyukics. rationitcouldhelp us to make thefirst steps towards change,” he says. “Weneed great minds to turn our ship in the right direction”.

create aphoto book of bridges. Gyukics took photos of the 151 most important Hungarian bridges (of the country’s 27,000 bridges), and Bridges in Hungary was published in 2005.

After the book’s great success –itwas so popular among bridge specialists that there were no copies leftfor bookstores –Gyukics turned to ‘the favou- rite river of Hungarians’, the Tisza. This second photo book, Along the Bridges of the Tisza River, was published in 2007 and presented all the bridges of Tisza River and 72 interesting monuments with technical and historical facts.

the diversityofthe Danube. According to Gyukics, what makes the Danube’s bridges so special is their variety.The very first bridge on the Danube was built out of stone in Regensburg, Germany, in 1146 It is no surprise that Gyukics finds inspiration from a (Regensburg’s Stone Bridge) and is still standing. leader in bridges and navigation: Hungarian Count Ist- The second permanent bridge is the Széchenyi Chain ván Széchenyi recognised the importance, forHungary Bridge in Budapest –asuspension bridge made from and the entire region, of regulating the Lower Danube stone andsteel.Today most bridges are made from re- and worked to open the region forsteamers and railway inforced concrete. Contrary to what one would think, traffic. The Széchenyi Chain Bridge, linking Buda and Gyukics says, this doesn’t mean uniformity. Pest forthe first time, was named forthe Count. “He patronised science and contributed to the economic “All bridges are unique.Theyhave the energytocon- development of the country by his books and his social centrate on the perspective even after the great technical and public activities,” says Gyukics. “He condemned – planning and construction work.” And there is much to by his words and his work –extreme nationalism.” seefor thosewho crossthe bridge –fine sculptures, balustradesand memorial tablets. “InBinzwangen, Perhaps Széchenyi’s lifecan inspire the next generation Germany, we canfind a200 to 300-year-old baroque of leaders needed to bridge Europe and the Danube sculpture near the bridge, and a20th-century sculpture River Basin. Formore information or to order a of St. John of Nepomuk on the same bridge!” copy, please visit: www.danube-bridges.com.

bridging identities. The Danube winds through va- Kirstie Shepherd is afreelance journalist living in Vienna and has called rying landscapes, diverse regions and countries, and the Danube River Basin home since 2000.

8 DANUBE WATCH Financingthe TroubledWaters JointProgramme photoexhibition of Measures on tour now

The exhibition ‘Troubled Waters’, now making its way around the world, captures the wide range of water challenges –from floods to droughts. Credit: Borealis

Credit: Gevaert/i stock

In cooperation with the Government of Serbia, the Today, more than one billion people do not have ICPDR held aconsultation meeting on financing the access to clean water, the fundamental source of life. Joint Programme of Measures in Belgrade on 18-19 To create awareness of this problem, its causes and May 2010. consequences, and to encourage amore efficient use of water,Borealishas created the exhibition‘Troubled The meeting brought together Heads of Delegation to Wa ters’, presenting the photos of Dieter Telemans, the ICPDR and members of the ICPDR delegations, arenowned Belgian photographer who has travelled representatives of financial institutions and pro- around the world documenting the manyfacets of grammes forsessions chaired by designated officials, freshwater resources. introductory presentations by known experts, and case studies to gain insight into the financing needs and The opening of the exhibition’s international tour was finance strategy.Facilitated dialogues foreach session held in June 2010 at the Borealis offices in Vienna for gave participants the opportunity to provide input Borealis’ employees, family and visitors, and included on the main investments needs forurban wastewater awater test and an ICPDR information stand. Borealis treatment, agricultural measures and infrastructure is amember of the Business Friends of the Danube, projects. the business association of the ICPDR.

Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia Bozidar Djelic said Informing the public of water challenges and manage- the meeting should be seen in close synergy with the ment solutions is akey step in encouraging them to use EU Danube Strategy process, which can bring new and preserve their water resources better, and is part impetus into the EU accession process, especially for of Borealis’ ambitious awareness-raising programme. the non-EU countries. The exhibition is touring as part of the ‘Water forthe Wo rld’ programme, aproject from Borealis and joint ICPDR Executive Secretary Philip We ller presented a venturepartner Borougetoraise awarenessofthe water review of significant financial resources needed, such challenges in the local communities which are home as to achieve the management objectives forinvestment to Borealis’ facilities and centres, and to foster knowledge in the Urban Wa stewater Treatment Directive, forin- on the sustainable use of water and effective sanitation. vestment in non-point pollution reduction, to improve lateral and longitudinal connectivity (fish bypasses, To learn more about the exhibition and the flood plain reconnection), forflood protection and fora programme ‘Water forthe Wo rld’, please visit: combination of investment and policy initiatives. www.waterfortheworld.net.

Mihaela Popovici is the ICPDR Technical Expert on Pollution Doris Gfrerer is amember of ICPDR projectstaff workingoncom- Control. munication and environmental education initiatives.

DANUBE WATCH 9 Power from theDanube– canitbesustainable? Danube leaders discussthe increased need forCO-neutral energy,the 2 construction of newhydropower plants,minimum ecological requirements and how all of this can be in line with the Danube River Basin Management Plan

When constructing new based on thepossibleeffects of climatechangeand dropower plants due to the river´s natural gradient. A hydropower plants, ener- pressure stemming from therenewableenergysec- total of 59 dams have been built along the Danube’s gy companies spend alot tor, hydropowerisahot topicwithin theeuropean first 1,000 kilometres –from the source down to Gabci- of money to ensure that fish can still overcome the union as well as aroundthe world.voices forincrea- kovo –manyofthem decades ago. This means that the obstacles. Credit: Ve rbund sed exploitationofhydropoweralong theriversare Upper Danube is interrupted every 16 km on average. gettinglouder. Around 60% of the electricity generated in Austria ye- The biannual meeting of the ICPDR Heads of Delega- arly originates from hydropower –20% produced along tion in Brdo, Slovenia, dedicated aspecial discussion the Danube itself. In Slovakia, hydropower counts for to the current and future situation of hydropower in about 16% of the energy mix; 11% derives from the the Danube River Basin, initiated by the ICPDR Pre- hydropower plan Gabcikovo. The largest hydropower sidency 2010 and chaired by Roko Žarnic´, Minister dam and reservoir system along the Danube is located forEnvironmental Protection and Spatial Planning of at the 117-km-long Djerdap Gorge (Iron Gate Dam I Slovenia. and II). This peak operation system consists of two dams, operated jointly by Serbia and Romania, produ- Nearly all Danube countries depend on hydropower. cing about 37% of the total energy used in Serbia and The upper part of the Danube is ideal forbuilding hy- 27% in Romania.

10 DANUBE WATCH even more powerfrom the water. Due to pressure hydropower potential. Secondly we should use use from EU policies responding to the possible effects of only those sites that have alow impact on ecology. climate change and the strong dependence on impor- Maybe it is even better to upgrade existing hydropo- ted electricity, construction of new hydropower plants wer plants instead of constructing new buildings or to is currently under discussion or in planning phases on build one large plant instead of constructing hundreds the Sava, Mura, Drava and the Tisza Rivers, as well as of small ones along all rivers –weneed to be realis- on the Danube itself between Romania and Bulgaria. tic and creative with solutions,” says Fritz Holzwarth, Head of the German Delegation to the ICPDR. However, existing and planned constructions can cau- se hydromorphological alterations which have negati- Dialogue to reach solutions. Thecoming years will “Weshould not ve impacts. Such alterations can lead to river and ha- show if and how hydropower can be produced sustai- only ask how bitat interruptions, the disconnection of wetlands and nably.The ICPDR is ready to open this chapter with much energy can floodplains and can even provoke changes in the natu- stakeholders from the energy sector to discuss, explore be produced,but ral structure of rivers, including the alteration of river and define solutions which respect both the increased we should also depth and width, of flow regimes, the interruption of demand of CO -neutral energy and the protection of ask what arethe 2 sediment transportation as well as the interruption of rivers and habitats. Clearly, duplication with other ef- requirementsof natural fish migration routes. forts at the national or EU level should be avoided, and ahealthyeco- the ICPDR will take into account ongoing discussions system.” Jorge These effects work against the spirit of the EU Wa- and suggested solutions. rodriguez-rome- ter Framework Directive and the goals set out in the ro,head of theeu Danube River Basin Management Plan, which was ac- As afirst step all relevant documents on hydropower Delegation to the cepted by all Danube countries in February this year. will be assembled and an overview on the current si- iCpDr. “Weneed to find acompromise between the goals set tuation of the hydropower use in the Danube River out by the EU Renewable Energy Directive and the EU Basin will be prepared by autumn. “Working with the water policy,” says Žarnic´. “Securing the sustainability navigation sector to develop the ‘Joint Statement on of hydropower is one of the main challenges in the im- Inland Navigation and Environmental Protection’ was plementation of the EU Water Framework Directive.” avery good experience,” says Philip We ller, ICPDR Executive Secretary.“We are positive that the dialogue bestplanning, construction and operation –but not with the energy sector will also lead to afruitful and everywhere. Best practices forplanning, construction moreover sustainable outcome.” and operation of plants can minimise their negative effects, as seen at the Freudenau Hydropower Plant, Jasmine Bachmann is the Executive Editor of Danube Wa tch. Austria. Especially on the Upper Danube, millions of Euros are being spent and will be spent in the coming years to re-fit old-fashioned plants forthe future, as re- quested by the WFD. Unfortunately, however, these non-DaM hyDropoWer– standards are not state of the art in plants throughout thesolution for thefuture? the basin. And even if all ecological standards are met by aplant, hydropower potential alone can not be seen One of the most exciting innovations in hydro- as agreen light forits exploitation. power doesn’t use dams.Instead, ‘hydrokinetic’ turbines capture energy from the flow of water “Weneed to look at each hydropower project indivi- in rivers,estuaries and ocean currents. Hydro- dually as we have high-sensitive, sensitive and non- kinetic turbines look just likeunderwaterwind sensitive areas,” says Otto Pirker, from VGB Power turbines built on the riverbed or hanging upside Tech. “Public interests need to be respected: energy down from barges anchored in the river.Non- production or environmental protection.” dam hydropower could have alower impact than dam-based hydropower and other conventional generation technologies,with no significant small plants –smaller footprints? Another key pro- blem is the increased and subsidised construction of engineering challenges to install or operatethe small hydropower plants. “There is ageneral concep- turbines in rivers. tion that asmall hydropower plant causes small im- pacts,” says Jian-hua Meng, hydropower expert from In January2010, the PikeEnergy consulting firm WWF International, “but this is not true. Moreover, estimated that if the European Union and the there is asubstantial cumulative impact.” United States continue to increase incentives for non-carbon energy,there could be about 3,000 Facing the problems these smaller plants cause forri- megawattsofriver flow turbines installed by 2025. ver ecology requires new thinking.. “First of all we should focus on sites of catchment areas with high Source: www.internationalrivers.org/en/node/5127

DANUBE WATCH 11 EU Commissionerfor Environmentlooks at challengesinthe Danube Over the last decade,the EU Water Framework Directivehas introduced aholi- stic approach to managing waters.Asaresult, much progresshas been made,but Janos Potocˇ nik, EU Commissioner forEnvironment, lookscloser.

tenyearshavepassedsincethe adoption of theeu Statement on Guiding Principles forthe Development Waterframework Directive. today, theimpactand of Inland Navigation and Environmental Protection in success of this comprehensive directiveonintegra- the Danube River Basin is an important tool in inte- tedwater resources managementare visible in the grating the different requirements. It is now time to Danube region,saysJanez potocˇ nik, eu Commissio- put these principles into practice in different parts of ner forenvironment. the region.

Danube Watch: What is the current stateofimple- Ialso support the forthcoming ICPDR initiative to mentation of the Waterframework Directive(WfD)? develop similar guiding principles on the use and deve- potocˇ nik: Forabout 80% of the EU population, River lopment of hydropower plants. The current practice of Basin Management Plans are, or will soon be, in place. hydropower development often lacks an assessment of This is also the case formost EU Member States in the Danube River Basin District.

“both when deve- The Danube River Basin Management Plan is asuccess loping inland wa- in international river basin management world-wide. terway transport It provides agood overview of basin-wide water ma- and hydropower, nagement issues, and how to solve them. However, it is crucialthat the international plan indicates that forthe most thereisadequate important water management issues at the basin wide coordination bet- level, such as nutrient pollution and hydromorpho- ween therespon- logical pressures, the environmental objectives will sible authorities not be achieved in 2015. Those therefore have to be and cooperation addressed with specific action at national or regional with themainsta- level. And despite the River Basin Management Plans keholders.” being ready, the biggest effort is still to come: the implementation of the plans forreal improvements to water status until 2015 and beyond. We are approa- ching 2012, the year by which Member States need to ensure that the Programmes of Measures adopted under the River Basin Management Plans are fully operational. There is only athree-year window,soall countries need to be pro-active in implementing some- times costly measures.

The improvements forthe Danube countries, inclu- ding fornon EU Member States, are not only about implementing measures such as the construction of urban waste water treatment plans. They are also about ensuring that all economic developments in the Danube region go hand in hand with environmental protection. This is particularly valid fordevelopment of infrastructure forinland waterway transport and renewable energy. impacts and better environmental options at river basin Danube Watch: howcan environmental concerns be scale. More strategic planning is therefore crucial for integrated in these developments? international river basins such as the Danube. This will potocˇ nik: Forinland waterway transport, the Joint allow planners to take into account cumulative effects

12 DANUBE WATCH or available locations forhydropowerplantswhich are Danube Watch: Canthe future strategy forthe less valuable, forexample regarding fish migration. Danube region play arole in this? But besides guidance and adequate coordination, it is potocˇ nik: The EU Strategy forthe Danube Region crucial that sufficient funding is made available for will address environmental concerns and the need integration of environmental concerns in different foreconomic developments in the region. The impor- policies. While it is clear that the implementation of tance of ensuring and improving river continuity will the WFD requires resources at Member States level, be recognised, as will be the important work of the we need to make sure that at the EU level policies for ICPDR in environmental protection in the region. It agriculture, energy, industry, transport and research, is important that actions in the future Strategy are in and regional policy all contribute to water protection. line with the needs of protecting the environment and In this respect, there are important opportunities with the Danube River Basin Management Plan. With ahead of us. Later this year and then in mid-2011, the this in mind, the future Strategy can play an important Commission will table proposals forthe reform of the role in further integrating environmental concerns in Common Agricultural Policy and the new financial economic developments. perspectives, which will cover both agriculture and regional funding. As you may know,these absorb the Danube Watch: What will the european Commission “the Waterfra- bulk of the EU budget. do with all the river basin Management plans? mework Directive potocˇ nik: The Commission is preparing areport to be transformed If we do not achieve further integration of environ- presented to the European Parliament and the Council watermanage- mental protection in these policies, we will be undoing on Member States’ on implementationofthe Directive ment from apu- with one hand what we are trying to achieve with the in 2012. It will conduct an in-depth analysis of the rely scientific and 170 River Basin Management Plans, which have been technicalsubject or should be reported to the Commission. This report forengineersand will focus on how Member States have implemented scientists to an the substantial requirements of this Directive and to issue at thefore- what extent, at both thenationaland EU level, syner- frontofpolitical gies with other policies have been exploited. attention.”

In addition, Iwill propose a‘Blueprint to safeguard Europe’s waters’ in 2012. This will build on the re- sults of the review of the implementation of the WFD and the review of the existing EU policy on water scarcity and droughts.

This Blueprint will be designed to provide Europe with the water security it needs and will address the challenges associated with efficientwateruse and en- suring agood quality of water resources and aquatic ecosystems in and bordering Europe. This is immi- nent to protect the environment, forclimate change resilience, and to improve the health and safety of Europeans, the stability of food supply and economic prosperity foryears to come.

This Blueprint will be asignificant element of the re- source efficiency initiative under the EU2020 strategy. Janez Potocˇnik, EU Commissioner It will highlight the importance of integrating water forEnvironment. policy objectives with other areas such as agriculture, Credit: European Union energy, industry, land use, research and transport. And all these topics are of course very relevant forthe most international river basin district in the world: the Danube.

Interview by Joe Hennon, the European Commission Spokersperson other.Moreover, we should not underestimate the forEnvironment. business opportunities that such an approach would offer in terms of development of know how and new technologies.

DANUBE WATCH 13 River dynamics provide theDanube is themajor riverofeurope,connec- Diversity in peril. Diversity along the river is threate- the basis forawide ting central europe to thesouth-eastern parts. ned: Manydynamic habitats have nearly disappeared range of river habitats and because of itslarge area and very diversehabitats due to river engineering, hydropower plants and secure long-term richness in biodiversity. Credit: –gravelislandsonthe upper river, large remai- navigation projects. Growing cities have made flood Baumgartner ning forest floodplains, extended wetlandsonthe protection measures necessary, which in turn cut off lowerriver –itprovides suitableliving conditions large floodplain areas from the river system. Forthese foralarge numberofdifferent species. thecom- andmanyother reasons, the extinction rate of species plete riverbasin,including tributaries, is home is currently around 1000 times faster than it should to around 2,000 plantand 5,000 animal species, be. Mammals are especially threatened –1%ofthe includingnumerousendangered or nearlyextinct nearly 6000 species worldwide is extinct, with ano- species. however, our knowledge of therichness ther 22% endangered in varying degrees. The group of biodiversity and thecomplexity in ecosystems of animals under the highest pressure is amphibians, is onlybeginning. with 30% of species threatened.

14 DANUBE WATCH TheDanubeRiver – Europe’s backbone of biodiversity

The richnessinhabitats,floraand fauna qualifies the Danube River to be afocus forconservation of biodiversity in Central and South-East Europe. Experts from different protected areas weigh in on the wise use of this natural heritage.

Developing the Danube River as abiological cor- ridor is important forthe long-term conservation of biodiversity.However, green corridors between big cities could also bring awide range of benefits forpeople. Credit: Donau- Auen National Park

However, considering that biodiversity gives mankind avariety of goods and services –which are now star- ting to be valued also in terms of money –the United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Ye ar of Biodiversity as a“celebration of lifeonearth and of “The Danube Delta is anatural gene bank with the value of biodiversity forour lives”. inestimable value forthe world´s natural heritage,” says Governor Grigore Baboianu proudly.“The mo- protectedareas –hotspots of biodiversity. This saic of habitats developed here is the most various year the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve celebrates in Romania, hosting agreat variety of communities its 20th anniversary.Established in 1990, it is not only of plants and animals that number around 5429.” In one of the first protected areas in the Danube River 30 types of habitats, the area is home to 1839 flora Basin, it is also one of the largest (580,000 hectares) species, 678 algae species and 1016 cormophytes. The and richest in biodiversity. 3590 fauna species include 2244 species of insects,

DANUBE WATCH 15 Danube protected 91 species of molluscs, 135 fish species and 331 dif- areas play akey role ferent bird species. forthe conservation of biodiversity. Credit: Bandacu Conservation programmes forflagshipspecies. With limited resources available fornature protection and poor knowledge of the habitat requirements of most of the species, it is not possible forprotected are- as to run conservation programmes forall endangered species, but instead it is necessary to focus on ‘flagship species’.

“Concrete conservation actions forflagship species for the Danube islands also support other characteristic species here in Persina Nature Park,” says Director Stela Bozhinova of one of the conservation strategies forthis Bulgarian Protected Area. “In the long term, our conservation activities forthe PygmyCormorant – aglobally threatened bird species –will be beneficial not just forthis species. The activities implemented in the frame of across-border LIFE+ project should improve habitat conditions forawide range of other organisms.”

habitat managementfor biodiversity. Our philoso- phy of conservation of species is based on conservati- on of their natural habitats,” explains Tomas Kusik, biodiversity expert of the Slovakian DANUBEPARKS partner BROZ. “Therefore, we prefer long-term ma- nagement of selected areas,“ adds his colleague Mira Ruda. In the Slovakian Danube floodplains, BROZ Even the best human habitat management will not has re-established meadow grazing by cows, horses be able to compensate forthe loss of river dynamics and sheep, which was acommon land use on Danube –ecological river engineers prefer just to initiate and islands manydecades ago. The vegetation, including then ‘let the river do the work’. “The river restoration numerous endangered plants, insects and other orga- projects here in our Protected Area initiate and bring nisms,isstill adapted to thisway of management and back the dynamic of the river,” says Carl Manzano, will benefit significantly. Director of the Donau-Auen National Park, located between Vienna andBratislava.“This is theonly gua- Tibor Parrag, head of the department fornature con- ranteefor theexistence and permanent redevelopment servation in the Duna-Dráva National Park, stresses of characteristic habitats forthe long term.” an additional concern. “The negative effects of human activities influence most types of habitats and therefo- The compensation of dynamic habitats by artificial re, there is the need forhabitat restoration. In the long structures has been tried several times and can work term we are trying to restore ‘self-regulated habitats’ forspecificspecies. Butobservations on the behaviour which won’t need permanent human management in of the Little-ringed Plover on the Austrian section of the future.” In addition to day to day conservation ma- the Danube –acharacteristic breeding bird species on nagement forselected habitat types and hotspots for gravel islands in this part of the Danube –has brought some priority species, nature conservation increasingly interesting results: compared to gravel islands created focuses on the initiation, restoration and conservation by natural river dynamics, birds have to invest much of natural processes. more time in foraging on artificial islands when they are ‘established’ by human activities. “Obviously, the Conservation of naturalprocesses. The incredible number of available foods on natural habitats –inclu- biodiversity in floodplains is based on the wide ran- ding awide range of insects, spiders etc. –ismuch ge of different habitats developed by the permanent higher in natural habitats,” explains Matthias Schmidt, change of parameters of the water regime. Further- conservation officer of BirdLifeAustria. more, highly dynamic river habitats like gravel banks and sandy islands are some of the most endangered Similar cases can be found in forests, where the very ecosystems. Therefore, nature protection on ariver has specific requirements of dead wood beetles underline to be based on river dynamics. the need forforest dynamics forthe conservation of

16 DANUBE WATCH connected with source populations by suitable stepping stones. So the protection of specific habitat structures like gravel islands, steep dynamic river banks or gal- lery forests in protected areascan conserve sustainable populations of characteristic species only if we protect source popula- tions and if we develop acoherent habitat network including numerous stepping stones along the whole river section.

atransnationalstrategyfor biodiversity. Theelaborationofthe EU Strategy forthe Danube region is going into the final phase. At this stage, in addition to the improve- ment of connectivity and communication systems and the reinforcement of the socio- economic development, the preservation of the environment –including the conserva- tion of biodiversity –has been identified as one of the main pillars forthis strategy.

The inspiration of aliving river –including all flora and fauna, the richness in habitats and structures as well as human culture

Conservation activities forflagship species –like the PygmyCormorant – contribute to improved species, showing that it is hardly possible to com- habitat quality for pensate fordynamic habitats and the richness of numerous organisms. biodiversity. Credit: Gergelyj habitat networks forbiologicalcorridors. The ef- forts of protected areas alone cannot ensure long-term conservation of all the characteristic animal and plant species of the region. Most protected areas, at less than 1000 hectares), cover small areas in comparison to the linked to nature –integrates Central and South-East total territory.The White-tailed Eagle –one of the Europe. Implementing corridor concepts will emerge as flagship species forthe protection of large scale flood- the key role of protected areas forthe conservation of plain habitat complexes –inhabits home ranges up to these natural values. DANUBEPARKS –the Danube some thousand hectares. Protected areas can only act as River Network of Protected Areas –was established key habitats and stepping stones forsuch endangered in 2009tostart facing thesechallenges on thefieldof species. nature conservation.

But rivers can serve as biological corridors, such as The EU Strategyfor theDanube Region is expected to forDanube sturgeons migrating from the Black Sea underline the importance of transnational activities for upstream to their spawning areas in the Upper Danube biodiversity conservation and to strengthen transnatio- region. The EU Wa ter Framework Directive and the nal initiatives to raise the capacity of key actors. In this Danube River Basin Management Plan highlight the way, the EU Strategy forthe Danube Region could importance of the corridor function of rivers and lon- significantly contribute to establishing the role of the gitudinal continuity. Danube River as aliving corridor andthe backbone for biodiversity in Central and South-East Europe. Forbiodiversity, the longitudinal continuity of a river should include more than just fish ladders and Formore information, please visit: bypasses forhydro power dams, it must also take into www.danubeparks.org. consideration semi-aquatic and terrestrial habitats. To ensure re-colonisation, specific habitats have to be Georg Frank is the Project Manager forDANUBEPARKS.

DANUBE WATCH 17 Public participationinaction: Hungary’s riverbasin managementplanning process Hungaryprovesthat while the need forpublic involvement is an important fea- ture of the EU Water Framework Directive, forthat involvement to be meaningful, people need abasic understanding of the principal features of the Directive.

The WFD refers to three The strategy recommends that these bodies be compo- forms of ‘stakeholder sedofrepresentatives from four major interest groups: engagement’: access to central and local governmental organisations, NGOs, background information, consultation in three water users and professionals and academia in a40%- steps of the planning 20%-20%-20% distributionrespectively.They provide process and the active public control of the planning process in accordance involvement of interested with the WFD, especially during the preparation of parties in all aspects of river basin management plans. They supervise the WFD implementation. Credit: Gayer public participation process at their own level, com- ment on the draftplans, then endorse or return them forfurther improvement. Finally, the National Wa ter Management Council has the right to recommend the successful implementation of theeuWater fra- minister in charge of watertoadopt thenationalriver mework Directive(WfD) requiresclose coopera- basin management plan. tion between experts and organisations involved or interested in riverbasin managementplanning –in shortamongall stakeholders.

Thefirst WFD-compatible publicparticipation strate- gy forHungary was developed in 2006. It was based on the European Commission’s Guidance Document No. 8onPublic Participation, the Danube River Ba- sin Public Participation Strategy, the findings of the Harmonising Collaborative Planning Handbook and the country’s own specific characteristics. The strategy is based on written and verbal consultations from 42 river basin management planning sub-units divided into four sub-catchments: Danube River, Tisza River, engaging the public. Once the national public parti- Drava River and Lake Balaton. cipation strategy was ready, the second round of the WFD Article 14 consultations began on the significant As partofapilot studyonWFD implementation, the water management issues. Aconsultation document strategy was tested in the Upper-Tisza catchment area. describing each issuewas made available to the public The test coincided with the first round of the WFD on the internet in December 2007. Comments were Article 14 consultations in 2007 forthe river basin received in written form during the first half of 2008, management plan timeline and work programme,and and then those stakeholders who had sent comments the final version of the Hungarian Public Participation were invited foraverbal consultation forum. Strategy is the result of both processes. The consultation document was finalised based on gathering stakeholders. The public participation thoseresults, pointing out what problems the evolving process is the responsibility of the country’s 12 river basin management should address. “The national regional Environmental and Water Directorates in river basin management plan cannot meet every single de- cooperation with the local environmental inspecto- mand,”says water director László Kóthay, “but it is built rates and national parks. To assure meaningful pu- up from sound compromises acceptable by all of us.” blic involvement the strategy suggests establishing planning committees of the existing 12 Regional The third round of the WFD Article 14 consultations Water Management Councils, 4Sub-catchment was held as an open planning process with consulta- Wa ter Management Councils and aNational Wa ter tion periods and stakeholder conferences organised Management Council. all over the country.The outline of the national river

18 DANUBE WATCH basin management plan was presented online in De- cember 2008 and was available forcomments until the Summer2010: end of January 2009. Based on the remarks received, the draftversion of the national Programme of Mea- Massivefloodsalong sures was made ready and published in April 2009 and remained open forcomments until the end of July. theDanubeRiver The consultation documents were debated in 42 local stakeholder conferences during July to complete the written consultation. bringing consultation opportunities to stakeholders. In order to overcome Next, 25 thematic and regional conferences were held future flood risks sound in September, when all the 47 drafts of river basin flood risk management planning must be put in management plans were available (42 sub-units, 4sub- place at all levels. Credit: basins and anational plan). Some 30-40 stakeholders Tóth attended each meeting and all in all more than 1,500 comments and remarks were expressed.

The consultation period was originally planned to close with the last forum in mid-September, but on the request of NGOs the written consultation period was extended until November.The comments (either written or verbal) were documented in the river basin this summer theDanube riverbasin wasrepeatedly management plans, together with the responses given delugedbytorrential rains causingmassive floods. by the planners when completing the plans. across thebasin people were forced from their homes, and manyhouses collapsed or were dama- “The necessity of trust building between government gedasaresultoffloodsorlandslidesafter flood and civil society has been an important lesson we learned events. during the planning process,” says Ferenc Ligetvári, Vice Chair of the National Water Management Council. At least ten people died in the Czech Republic fol- lowing heavy rains in June. Floods and torrential rain putting public participation intoaction. The Regio- in June killed 24 people in Romania, forced 7000 to nal, Sub-catchment and National Wa ter Management be evacuated and damaged farms and infrastructure. Councils convened in December 2009–January 2010 to In Serbia, about 10 peoplediedinflash floods in rural approve the river basin management plans. The recom- areas. Thousandswereforced to evacuateinover900 mendations of these bodies were integrated from the villages and small towns in Slovakia in June as aresult bottom up and finally the National Wa ter Management of floods that destroyed crops, and damaged buildings Council approved Hungary’s river basin management and cars. Casualties were also reported after floods in plan on 18 January 2010. Forlegislative reasons a Hungary and Austria. Flash floods created lakes in shorter version of the national plan was compiled and Bulgaria’s capital in June and large parts of the coun- endorsed on 1March. This version was announced try were flooded as well. Fighting floods was acruel later by agovernmental decision as Hungary’s river summer reality in manyareas of Croatia, Bosnia and basin management plan. Herzegovina, Ukraine and Moldova.

The work of the Wa ter Management Councils has not Long term forecasts indicate that torrential rains may finished with the completion of the plans in the first become worse and more frequent with the potential planning cycle. They have the mandate to monitor the effects of climate change. Facing future flood risks implementation of the Programme of Measures and act requires coordinated implementation of the EU as supervisors of WFD implementation. Floods Directive. All Danube countries currently have national programmes forflood protection. The “The involvement of the public into the river basin ICPDR adopted its Action Programme on Sustainable management planning process was an unprecedented Flood Protection in the Danube River Basin in 2004, exercise in Hungary”, says Gyula Reich, Chair of setting key targets forprotection, prevention and GWP Hungary, “and demonstrated that governmental mitigation, and action plans for17sub-basins were and civil organizations are able to work together if adopted in 2009. goodwill exists from both sides”. Igor Liska is the Technical Expert forWater Quality forthe ICPDR. József Gayer works forthe Hungarian Ministry of Rural Development.

DANUBE WATCH 19 Sailingtogetherinone direction Ivelina Vassileva,DeputyMinister of Environment and Water of Bulgaria and Head of the Bulgarian Delegation to the ICPDR, speaksabout the responsibilitytopro- tect the Danube Black Sea and working together in the ICPDR.

bulgaria:faCts anDfigures

sizeofthe country 110,910 km2 area within the Danube river basin 46,930 km2 share of the total Danube river basin around 5.9% population around 7.4million population in the Danube river basin around 3.4million Capital Sofia

per-capita gDp around €3,300 Main tributaries Ogosta, Iskar,Vit, to the Danube Osam, Yantra, Rusenski Lom

Ivelina Vassileva, Deputy in itscontinuing series,Danube Watchpresents this is why improving water quality, protecting biodi- Minister of Environment portraits of theleaderswhosepassion and com- versity and returning to natural river dynamics cannot and Wa ter of Bulgaria and mitmentactivelysteer ipCDr processes and help be the task of asingle country.Just as the Danube Head of the Bulgarian Delegation to the ICPDR. determine thefutureofthe basin. is acommon natural good, its protection should be a Credit: ICPDR/Stögmüller common responsibility. In the work of the ICPDR, the Heads of Delega- tions are often seen as ‘behind-the-scenes players’ As an international organisation, the ICPDR has great who, inconspicuous as they sometimes may seem, opportunities and faces great challenges at the same actively steer the ICPDR processes and represent time. Being all ‘in the same boat’ gives us the chance their countries at the highest political level. Ivelina to work together and steer in one direction, having Vassileva joined the ICPDR Family as the new Head already found the balance among the different coun- of the Bulgarian Delegation and recently met with tries‘ interests. Such problems are not always easy to Danube Wa tch. solve, because each country has its own specifics and important issues. Nevertheless, efforts are worthwhile Danube Watch: afterhalfayear in theposition as since they aim at the common interest of protecting thehead of thebulgarian Delegation to theiCpDr, and improving the Danube River. what areyour impressions of thestrengthsand weaknessesofthe iCpDr? Danube Watch: What arethe mostimportant tasks vassileva: The ICPDR is agood example of internati- bulgariafaces in implementing internationalplans and onal cooperation as it brings all the Danube countries strategies? around one table with the common goal to protect vassileva: One of the biggest challenges forBulgaria and improve the condition of the Danube. Rivers do is providing the agglomerations in the Danube Basin not respect administrative and national borders and with the necessary collecting systems and treatment

20 DANUBE WATCH vassileva: The Black Sea and the Danube River are history highlights interrelated and the Danube River is one of the big- gest rivers flowing into the Black Sea –and bringing Acountryinthe middle of the ethnically,cultu- alot of pollution with that flow.This means to acer- rally and linguistically diverse Balkan Peninsula, tain extent that the path to protecting the Black Sea Bulgaria has had many twistsand turns in its goes through protecting the big rivers in the basin, long historyand itsterritoryhas stretched to including the Danube River.From the Danube Delta, the coastlines of the Black,Aegean and Adriatic the natural streams within the Black Sea go down to Seas. the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, which is almostentirely used as atourist destination. Since tourism is an im- In 681 the Bulgars,originally from central Asia, portant income forthe country and amatter of culture formed an independent statethat became known and tradition as well, the protection of the Danube as Great Bulgaria. In the following centuries, becomes an even more critical problem to solve. Bulgaria struggled with the Byzantine Empire to assert itsplace in the Balkans,but by the end of Another interesting look at the Danube and the Black “being all‘in the the 14th centurythe countrywas overrun by the Sea water management is that both fall under the same boat’ gives Ottoman Turks, who controlled Bulgaria fornearly competence of EU legislation but thetwo regions are us thechance to five centuries. completely different when it comes to legislation of work together the countries in the two commissions. Most of the and steer in one In 1876, the April Uprising brokeout –the first Danube countries share the same legislation as EU direction, having significant and organised attempt at liberation Member States,which makes cooperation easier from alreadyfound the from Ottoman domination. The bloody uprising certain point of view,while only Bulgaria and Roma- balance amongthe wascrushed by the Ottomans,but it drew the nia are EU countries in the Black Sea Commission. The differentcoun- attention of European countries to the Bulgarian challenge is to work in the same direction and with tries’ interests.” national crisis.The Treaty of Berlin split Bulgaria the same criteria, while having adifferent legislative in three,but acomplete, independent Bulgaria basis. Nevertheless, all Black Sea countries recognise wasestablished by King Ferdinand in 1908. that improving the condition of the Black Sea is in our common interests and should be agoal to pursue Bulgaria sided with the central powers in World together. WarI,subsequently losing agreat part of its lands,and in World WarIIBulgaria fought on the Danube Watch: What do youexpectfromeustra- side of the Axis.After the war, Bulgaria fell within tegy forthe Danube region? the Soviet sphere of influence and became a vassileva: The challenge of the Danube Strategy is “the path to pro- People’sRepublic in 1946. Communist domination to find the actions and projects which will enhance tecting theblack ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held itsfirst multi- the development of the Danube region in asustaina- seagoes through party election since World WarII. Anew consti- ble way.Bringing all the important sectors which are protecting thebig tution wasadopted in 1991, and Bulgaria began subject to the Strategy in asingle document allows rivers in thebasin, moving toward amarket economy.The country us to look at the region from a‘bird’s eye view’ and including theDa- joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.Bulgaria recognises the important tasks to be done which will nube river.” has been aContracting Party to the ICPDR since make the region more competitive. Transport and en- the Danube River Protection Convention was ergy are important sectors not only forBulgaria but signed in Sophia in 1994. also forall Danube countries, and the environment is the important pillar of sustainability forimplementing actions and projects. Bringing the key sectors together plants, since untreated wastewater from agglome- to enhance development has the potential to make rations is the main source of organic and nutrient the process effective and less consuming in time and pollution in the water bodies. Ye tconstruction of resources. these facilities has slowed recently.Agood number of treatment plants were constructed with the financial ForBulgaria, the Strategy means achance to stress support of EU under the Instrument forStructural the important role of certain projects in the sectors Policies forPre-Accession programme and now under of transport, energy, tourism andenvironment,which the Operational Programme ‘Environment’, but many will contribute to the development not only of our agglomerations still lack appropriate collecting systems country but also of the whole Danube region. and treatment plants. With short deadlines and the limited financial sources, this task is very challenging. Danube Watch: thank youverymuch, Ms.vassileva.

Danube Watch: howdoes being ablacksea country Jasmine Bachmann is the Executive Editor of Danube Wa tch. affect bulgaria’s watermanagement?

DANUBE WATCH 21 Theecological road forwaterways Anew manual published by the ICPDR provides guidance on integrated planning to bring technical planners and environmental representatives intothe planning processand create win-win solutions foreveryone.

on 2september2010, theplatina consortium vative processes and measures have shown that it is launched an innovative manualpresenting good indeed possible to create win-win solutions forenvi- practices in sustainablewaterwayplanning.this ronment, transport and other river uses.” document,producedbythe iCpDrsecretariat,il- lustrateshow waterway developmentprojectscan In recent years the ICPDR has been very active and be madecompatiblewith environmental protection successful in establishing the interdisciplinary dia- requirements, such as those stipulatedbyeulaw. logue between the various interest groups and river users. The first result in 2007 was a‘Joint The Platform forthe Statement on Guiding Principles forthe Implementation of Development of Inland Navigation and NAIADES –PLATINA, Environmental Protection in the Danube consists of 22 partners from 9different countries River Basin’, endorsed by the ICPDR, Da- working to accelerate nube Commission and International Sava the achievement of Commission. NAIADES, aims to enhance the use of inland howtoset up and succeed with aplanning navigation as part of intermodal freight solu- process. The new manual goes several tions, in order to create a steps further by providing first ageneral, sustainable, competitive illustrated road map; second, background and environmentally information on the complex legal requi- friendly European-wide rements; and, third, concrete examples transport network. of ecology-supportive river engineering. Numerous figures, internet links and refe- rences facilitate its use.

The Manual was prepared within the EU PLATINA project, involving 22 organisa- tions in 9countries to improve inland wa- terway transport. The ICPDR work is based on two years of intense expert reflections with the Austrian waterway companyvia The manual offers general advice forwaterway in- donau, the BOKU University of Natural Resources frastructure projects and addresses both technical and LifeSciences as well as Inland Navigation Europe. planners and interested stakeholders who want to be involved in aplanning process. The early integration result of extended stakeholder consultations. The of stakeholders (including those representing envi- preparation of the manual relied on several workshops ronmental interests) and of environmental objectives and commenting phases, actively involving institutions and wide communication are essential forasuccessful suchasthe European Commission, transport andenvi- planning process. ronment ministries from various EU countries as well as environmental NGOs. reconciling what might be conflicting interests. According to Philip We ller, Executive Secretary of get your copy. The manual can be downloaded from the the ICPDR, “this new planning tool will substanti- PLATINA webpage www.naiades.infoand from www. ally enhance and smooth communication between the icpdr.org. Printed copies can be ordered from ICPDR, transport and environment sectors”. To Mr We ller, the VIC D0412, PO Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria. public discussions make it clear that“there is astrong need to guide future actions, notably in infrastructure Alexander Zinke is the ICPDR’s project manager fornavigation, projects at the Danube and Sava Rivers. Some inno- and the main author of the manual.

22 DANUBE WATCH Danube Day activities allowed us to marvel at the spectacles and sights –such as untangling the web in Austria’s Danube Challenge 2010 –and to involve ourselves in creating asustainable future.Credit: (above) Bruckner, (below) Union forthe Morava River DanubeDay 2010:Getting active forthe rivers! ‘Get activefor the rivers!’ was the call forDanu- be Day 2010 and was atheme that people took on board and ranwith! We danced, sang, canoed, climbed, swam, cooked, explored and rapped forthe rivers.The river came to the street and school went to the Danube.We celebrated by being activeand by taking action.

DANUBE WATCH 23 Danube Day 2010 wasanimmense success:despite needs boats: In Ingolstadt, 100 courageous people the impacts of serious flooding in Danube countries, braved cold temperatures and high waters to swim it continues to grow. over 483 organisers –60more a1km stretch. Aflagship event is Austria’s Danube than last year –held 140events.actions built on Challenge, and 400 children won the chance to take previous years,cementing events in communitylife. part. Environment Minister Nicholas Berlakovich theybrought newpartners,creating working relati- and swimming champion Mirna Jukic welcomed the onships that will continue intothe future.overseen youngsters who were faced with an extra challenge by the iCpDr, festivities stretched along the Danube –torrential rain! They valiantly soldiered on: pond- and major tributaries,in14countries and 7capitals. dipping, tracking, spider-web climbing and rapping. romania beat all previous records: 205 organisations celebrated in overhalf the country’s counties.bul- getting activefor your community. People rolled up garians got activein8towns.inserbia, 87 partners their sleeves and filled bin bags. Plastic pollution was a created agreat tide of events in 16 locations.sava focus: Derventa NGO Forum from Bosnia-Herzegovina Day,on1June,marked the startinserbia and, with put it best with their Sava Plastic is not Fantastic! cam- events through to september,it’sbeen more aDa- paign. They ran aClean Danube campaign in Ukraine: nube summer than aDanube Day. “After ahard day of rubbish collecting [the teenagers] were tired but happy and certain that they would Every sector of society was involved. From internati- never drop litter in the natural environment!” said onal canoe tours to Ukrainian–Romanian flag ceremo- aWWF organiser.Atthe Vilkove ‘Juice Exchange’, nies, basin-wide and Danube-long art extravaganzas to bottles collected could be swapped forCoca-Cola. Upper Tisza bilateral workshops, the day provided an Sava Day in Slovenia saw Environment Minister Roko impetus to bring people, communities and countries Žarnic´present awards in the Yo u’re My River contest, together.The devastating floods were adistressing re- which saw children from 19 schools make environ- minder of the influence of rivers on our lives. Several mental adverts. All the children, Žarnic´said, had an events were cancelled; others focused on flood issues: “incredible ability to touch our hearts”. Czechs debated protection in Olomouc and warning systems were high on the agenda in Slovakia. Government initiatives were launched and com- pleted. The stunning nightscape of Budapest was “The highlight of this year has been the cooperative the backdrop forHungary’s main event. 120 key efforts on both sides of the Tisza, working together decision-makers boarded the Europa foragala cruise, to protect the river forfuture generations,” said An- marking the start of aDanube campaign in the run- Children served as the driy Bublyk of Coca-Cola Beverages Ukraine. “This is up to the country´s first EU presidency.Bavaria’s best ambassadors, brin- perhapsaunique exampleofinternational cooperation ging the message of the impressive Action We ek forthe Danube, attracting Danube –literally –out which Ihope will become amodel forothers.” 2500 visitors, celebrated the completion of floodplain into their communities, restoration between Neuburg and In- and proving that we getting activeinthe rivers. One topic stood golstadt. are all in the same boat. out above all others –getting active – Credit: (this page) Wa sser- through sport and exercise or by hel- wirtschaftsamt Ingolstadt, “It’s important to (opposite page) Union for ping your community.Whichever emphasise that the Morava River Wo rld Cup team you supported, governmental it was ‘Danube United’ all the actions are way in regional events: thou- not enough sands played football, enjo- to improve yed fishing or had alaugh water qua- in sack races. We waltzed lity and in Vienna, tangoed in the envi- Belgrade, belly danced ronment,” in Adonyand marched in said Lász- Lom. Ukraine’s Tisza has ló Borbély, Talent in the tinyvillage Minister of Dilove saw 350 people of Environ- cheer on their favourites – ment and including cycling acrobats in Forests, in his Danube Day T-shirts! Danube Day message to Basin People got in boats: from Serbs Committees and learning to sail to professionals Wa ter Basin Admini- wowing Hungarian crowds. But who strations across Romania.

24 DANUBE WATCH “Each of us has to do something forthe sustainable stages. The Neuburg Festival was one of the best: protection of the Danube Basin ecosystem.” 1,000 people watched bands on the floating stage, set against the floodlit castle and river banks lit by Danube Day 2010 wasbig. Extraordinary sites and candles. Age-old music and craftwere on show at mi- big spectacle characterised events: 4500 people were nistry festivities in Croatia. Awreath was cast into the distracted from shopping at Vienna’s Millennium City waters at Dolna Mitropolia. Danube Day’s own tradi- to take acloser look at the giant 60m2 game of Donau tion, and –music to some people’s ears –the Greet the Punkt Genau. As darkness fell, the logo was displayed Danube Horn Blast took place in Hungary. on the 202m tall Millennium Tower, reminding all Vienna and millions at the Donauinselfest what day Danube Day’s biggest extravaganza was the 7th Danu- it was. In athought-provoking action, an enormous be Art Master contest, which helped develop asense blue flag dangled high above the fast-flowing Tisza. of solidarity across the Basin. Children’s understan- Temporarily linking the villages of Velyky Bychkiv, ding was clear: Save the Danube and the Living Wo rld Ukraine, and Bocicoiu Mare, Romania, the Fish United Around Him and Blue Salvation were winners in flag showing 14 fish in the national colours of each Croatia. Danube Day was Danube Food Day in many country floated across the sky to Romania –the start towns. The Gourmet Festival in Uzlina saw hundreds of its one year basin-wide journey.AtSerbia’s main of Romanians enjoy Delta hospitality.Top chefscom- celebration, the Danube came to the streets. Ahuge peted to win prizes forcommunity projects. Perhaps blue swathe was painted onto the tarmac. Visitors the best ploy to get good media coverage: Novi Sad strolled down the river, completing tasks to ‘help’ the held ajournalists’ fish-soup contest. Danube. ‘Hush’ was needed at Gornje Podunavlje to avoid frightening the shy Black Storks. At Djerdap, Millions heard about Danube Day through widespread children helped Beluga get past the dam and met the media coverage. We ’ll meet again forDanube Day in Otter at Koviljsko Petrovaradinski Rit. 2011: can it get anybigger? finding out about our rivers. Education and investi- The ICPDR would like to thank the organisa- gation were clear themes. Events were dedicated to tions involved in Danube Day 2010. Please visit: research; others focused on informing the public. In www.danubeday.org forfull details of events and Serbia, 24 university faculties were involved. Slova- partners. kia held aseminar on monitoring water bodies for basin management plans. In Baden-Württemberg, the Suzie Holt lives in Devon, UK, and is awriter on environmental schoolroom moved to the Danube –German pupils issues.She hasbeeninvolvedinDanubeDay sinceits startin2004and could study the river up close. before that worked forWWF on the Carpathian Ecoregion Initiative.

“If we have more such activities, I’m sure we will Danube Day 2010 was an learn more about nature and learn how to take care of immense success. it,” said Branko Ledinek, Major of Racˇe-Fram, talking Over 140 events to the 100 participants at the Danube Day walk in stretched along the Racˇ ki Ribniki-Požeg Landscape Park, Slovenia. “Civil Danube and major organisations...should take the major role in this task tributaries, in 14 and show us the right way.” countries and 7 capitals. engaging the facebook generation. Danube Day was See some of the hi-tech and hip, using social networking, live-cams festivities on the and visual displays. Vienna’s Museums Quartier was following pages. the scene of aflashmob waltz launched via Facebook. At the appointed time, everyone enthusiastically began to dance –and some passers-by joined in too! Events could be followed on Facebook and Twitter e.g. Belgrade’s ‘Save the Danube camp’. On board the Donau-Live ship in Vienna, visitors saw what was going on underneath them via an underwater live-cam. New Czech and Bulgarian versions of the Danube Box education kit were also developed this year. traditions old and new: music,art and food. Culture was astrong element: traditional music drifted across rivers, whilst rock and jazz blasted out from riverside

DANUBE WATCH 25 Participants in the Danu- be Art Master competi- tion were challenged to visit their local rivers and to contemplate what the river means to them. The results of this reflection were then visualised by materials which the children found at and in the river, including reeds, stones or driftwood – even rubbish. Credit: Union forthe Morava River

Cross-border art: the Danube Scroll was transported along the Danube by canoe and painted along the way by agroup of inter- national artists. Uniting Hungarians, Croats and Serbs: the 150 km Baja Waters Unite Canoe Tour went ahead despite high waters. The sublime combination of food and culture enlivened the Danube spirit at the Uzlina Gourmet Festival in Romania. Swimming champion Mirna Jukic celebrates with young adventurers on the Danube Challenge 2010. Credit: (top) UnterwegerZaiss, (above right) Adonyi Evezos, (above left) Ganea/Inquam Photography, (far left) Bruckner

26 DANUBE WATCH Taking the message to the streets of Lom, Bulgaria: young people made speeches, shared visions, paraded and launched goodwill messages. The Czech Danube Art Master contest saw united forthe basin: the more entries than ever before Danube fish united flag is –the ethereal River Queen beat officially handed overfrom 360 entries from 50 schools and ukraine to romania -the goes through to the interna- tional final in Vienna. Good startofits tour through the news on Danube Day: WWF Danube countries. announced new colonies of the Credit: All-Ukrainian Ecological League threatened PygmyCormorant were discovered during their recent canoe research expedition in Bulgaria. Credit: (top) Municipa- lity of Lom, (left) WWF DCP,(right) Union forthe Morava River

Battling hard: ahighlight at Neuburg’s festival in Germany was the good–natured but strongly contested canoe race, watched by 700 spectators. Yo ung Ukrainians show off their hard work in the Clean Danube campaign in the Danube Delta and created eco-fashion from the colourful plastic rubbish they collected. Danube Action We ek in Germany: Dr Markus Söder, Bavarian Environment Minister, (sitting centre), pressed the button to release 3m3/s of water through the newly restored floodplains. Credit: (top) Habermayer, (far left) WWF DCP,(left) All- Ukrainian Ecological League, (below) Wa sserwirtschaftsamt Ingolstadt

DANUBE WATCH 27 iCpDr Meetings Forfinal dates, please consult the ICPDR calendar, available at www.icpdr.org.

14–15/9/2010 tiMisoara, roMania inforMation ManageMentanD gisexpertgroup

24–26/9/2010 vienna, austria international Danubeart Master sChool CoMpetition –Winners’ trip

30/09–1/10/2010 vienna, austria tisza group

5–6/10/2010 buCharest, roMania Monitoring anD assessMent expertgroup

13–14/10/2010 bonn, gerMany publiC partiCipation expertgroup

14–15/10/2010 tiMisoara, roMania flooD proteCtion expertgroup

21–22/10/2010 lJublJana, slovenia river basin ManageMent expertgroup

21–22/10/2010 buDapest, hungary grounD Water task group

9–10/12/2010 vienna, austria iCpDr orDinaryMeeting

DW 03/10 upCoMing issue

2010 floods –areview savaupdate

ICPDR –International Commission forthe Protection of the Danube River Secretariat, Vienna International Center, D0412, P.O. Box 500, 1400 Vienna, Austria, Tel: +43/1/260 60-5738, Fax: +43/1/260 60-5895 e-mail: [email protected], www.icpdr.org